Social Feed
Whew! It's been 7 years since I went router shopping. At that time, my choice was fairly...the Linksys Wrt54GS. It was not expensive with all the rebates back then and was consistently given rave reviews. Now, things are different. There are so many options out there that I'm overwhelmed, frustrated and have no idea who to believe, opposing opinions from consumers and varying reviews from the large tech companies (Cnet, PCMag, etc)!
Here's my setup: Cable Internet (currently running to the Linksys WET54GS), then I have a networked blu-ray player (Netflix, Hulu Plus, etc), networked media player w/hard drive), VOIP phone adapter.
Two laptops connected to the router wirelessly.
In addition, I have a second Lynksys WRT54G that's connected to the first router wirelessly that has the same networked blu-ray player and networked media player (since both are wired only, we're using the wireless router with other firmware to allow the wired devices to connect wirelessly to the main system - something that seems much more common now that when it was setup 7 years ago). Oh, and a wireless printer.
So, I guess my questions are simple: what routers do you recommend and what device to use to connect the bedroom equipment to the wireless system.
I've seen a lot of the new routers have simultaneous dual band transmission which seems it would be of benefit in my setup. What I'm not sure about is if I really need gigabit ethernet (for the bluray and media player streaming) or if fast (100mb) ethernet is enough. I don't know how much that changes anything. Price is an issue but I don't want to overlook anything that could really benefit our setup. All my patch cables are Cat.6 ethernet (the price difference on Monoprice was so small, I figured I might as well have Cat6 vs 5).
I'm fairly tech savvy but I don't want an impossible setup to maintain...but if there's some minor tinkering to do to save a lot of money, that would be a possibility.
Last this, the reason I'm wanting to upgrade is that the router doesn't appear to be functioning properly anymore. It won't maintain broadcasting the internet speeds that are getting to the modem for more than a short time after reboot - and that doesn't always work. I've seem the speeds frequently drop to 1mb download/0.5 upload instead of the 13/5 that we should be getting (but only occasionally do). This does appear to be the router because connecting directly to the modem gives the correct speeds and none of the tweaking I've done to the setup has been helpful.
Sorry this was a bit lengthy but I wanted you to know the particulars. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks so much in advance!
Rae
Here's my setup: Cable Internet (currently running to the Linksys WET54GS), then I have a networked blu-ray player (Netflix, Hulu Plus, etc), networked media player w/hard drive), VOIP phone adapter.
Two laptops connected to the router wirelessly.
In addition, I have a second Lynksys WRT54G that's connected to the first router wirelessly that has the same networked blu-ray player and networked media player (since both are wired only, we're using the wireless router with other firmware to allow the wired devices to connect wirelessly to the main system - something that seems much more common now that when it was setup 7 years ago). Oh, and a wireless printer.
So, I guess my questions are simple: what routers do you recommend and what device to use to connect the bedroom equipment to the wireless system.
I've seen a lot of the new routers have simultaneous dual band transmission which seems it would be of benefit in my setup. What I'm not sure about is if I really need gigabit ethernet (for the bluray and media player streaming) or if fast (100mb) ethernet is enough. I don't know how much that changes anything. Price is an issue but I don't want to overlook anything that could really benefit our setup. All my patch cables are Cat.6 ethernet (the price difference on Monoprice was so small, I figured I might as well have Cat6 vs 5).
I'm fairly tech savvy but I don't want an impossible setup to maintain...but if there's some minor tinkering to do to save a lot of money, that would be a possibility.
Last this, the reason I'm wanting to upgrade is that the router doesn't appear to be functioning properly anymore. It won't maintain broadcasting the internet speeds that are getting to the modem for more than a short time after reboot - and that doesn't always work. I've seem the speeds frequently drop to 1mb download/0.5 upload instead of the 13/5 that we should be getting (but only occasionally do). This does appear to be the router because connecting directly to the modem gives the correct speeds and none of the tweaking I've done to the setup has been helpful.
Sorry this was a bit lengthy but I wanted you to know the particulars. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks so much in advance!
Rae
17 Replies
·
4004 views
So do you find the cable providor slows down randomly, certain times of the day? I'm trying to figure this all out and I'm about to conclude that I need to start with the router as the problem source as direct connected speeds were consistently good. I'm hoping thing will work together once I get that sorted. I think that the Linksys is either just tired or overwhelmed by the amount of use and streaming that is commonplace these days. I mean, 7 years ago, what *was* the average internet speed? 1-3mb/download or something? Maybe less.
Any many thanks to everyone for all your help, experience and advice. It's still overwhelming to figure out what I NEED (instead of *want*) and there's a budget but it's getting easier to get my head around now.
B
My cable provider is Comcast in the Chicago area.
My provider is usually pretty good during the late evenings, but they slow down for me during the day. I replaced my first 2 Linksys due to then quickly becoming obsolete and I didnt notice any slowdowns while on early DSL at 1.5MBps. I went cheap and got bargain prices on old tech that I outgrew very quickly once I got hooked up to cable after the DSL provider(Covad/Earthlink) kept jacking with me.. My online experiences go way back to 110 baud acoustic couplers with teletype equipment, so I have seen vast improvements in data transfer speed.
Tech changes very quickly, so plan ahead. The Ubiquiti products mentioned previously should work well and should "future proof" you for a few years.
If you are in an apartment, you can get one of the higher power routers, you just need to make sure it is secure. My family bugs me for running WPA2 with MAC address filtering, but I tell them that they can feel safe knowing my network is secure. I only authorize address in the router as I read them on the devices myself. I am very paranoid about keeping my personal information personal and being into tech for many decades had opened my eyes to a lot of the pitfalls. One of the things I tell friends and family that set up their own wireless networks is that they must change the default password before they turn on the wireless part of the device.
So do you find the cable providor slows down randomly, certain times of the day? I'm trying to figure this all out and I'm about to conclude that I need to start with the router as the problem source as direct connected speeds were consistently good. I'm hoping thing will work together once I get that sorted. I think that the Linksys is either just tired or overwhelmed by the amount of use and streaming that is commonplace these days. I mean, 7 years ago, what *was* the average internet speed? 1-3mb/download or something? Maybe less.
Any many thanks to everyone for all your help, experience and advice. It's still overwhelming to figure out what I NEED (instead of *want*) and there's a budget but it's getting easier to get my head around now.
My cable provider is Comcast in the Chicago area.
My provider is usually pretty good during the late evenings, but they slow down for me during the day. I replaced my first 2 Linksys due to then quickly becoming obsolete and I didnt notice any slowdowns while on early DSL at 1.5MBps. I went cheap and got bargain prices on old tech that I outgrew very quickly once I got hooked up to cable after the DSL provider(Covad/Earthlink) kept jacking with me.. My online experiences go way back to 110 baud acoustic couplers with teletype equipment, so I have seen vast improvements in data transfer speed.
Tech changes very quickly, so plan ahead. The Ubiquiti products mentioned previously should work well and should "future proof" you for a few years.
If you are in an apartment, you can get one of the higher power routers, you just need to make sure it is secure. My family bugs me for running WPA2 with MAC address filtering, but I tell them that they can feel safe knowing my network is secure. I only authorize address in the router as I read them on the devices myself. I am very paranoid about keeping my personal information personal and being into tech for many decades had opened my eyes to a lot of the pitfalls. One of the things I tell friends and family that set up their own wireless networks is that they must change the default password before they turn on the wireless part of the device.
Staff member
Pub Member / Supporter
Cutting Edge
The TPN Map Excel Presents all DIRECTV Channels:
Understanding the TPN Map
Making Sense of the TPN Map Display Conventions
National (50-States or wide/NAT+PR beams)
Local (Local-Into-Local or narrow/Spot beams)
Local (Local-Into-Local or narrow/Spot beams)
Additional tabs provide:
OTA the (Over-The-Air) Database
VOD (Video On_Demand) Records
Offline Records
Engr Records
Net Decoder a graphic presentation of all satellites and transponders
VOD (Video On_Demand) Records
Offline Records
Engr Records
Net Decoder a graphic presentation of all satellites and transponders
Domestic Satellites
@99W...... D11, D14
@101W.... D9S, D16
@103W.... D10, D12, D15
@110W.... D5
@119W.... D8
@99W...... D11, D14
@101W.... D9S, D16
@103W.... D10, D12, D15
@110W.... D5
@119W.... D8
See also
Understanding the TPN Map
Making Sense of the TPN Map Display Conventions
1969 Replies
·
910587 views
Pub Member / Supporter
Lifetime Supporter
Did anyone have a price increase today on their equipment? I own my VIP211k's, and they have been $5.00. My bill that I received last week shows the "add-ons" as being $5.00. However, I just logged into my Dish account, and my "add-ons" are now $10.00. Did the additional receivers go up by $5.00 recently?
As I mentioned, my last bill shows $5.00 and under the notes, nothing is mentioned about a price increase.
As I mentioned, my last bill shows $5.00 and under the notes, nothing is mentioned about a price increase.
7 Replies
·
112 views
Possibly. In theory, $9 of the base pack has a rental fee built in. But now is this $5 a chance to get a little more? I don't know for sure. According to chat, it is a glitch and will be resolved in a timely manner, but we shall see. Part of my thinks there is a going to be a new charge, whether it is now or this fall. Here in Illinois, the law requires we are given 30 days notice of any fee changes, but I have not been given anything.
Mexico takes on South Africa to open the World Cup Final (it is called the Final... this just isn't the World Cup Final... Final). The tournament has been plagued with rife malfeasance as FIFA has been committing all sorts of fraud with the ticket sales. Hotel rooms have gone unfilled as the prices to attend a game and stay somewhere are through the roof. I swear this is impacting Mansfield, OH hotel rates which are higher than average for the Indycar race. And there is a broadening VAR presence which will ruin things as nothing worse now when scoring a goal and knowing you can't quite celebrate yet as they check to see if a player was offside by a pixel a half-hour ago.
The Group Stage used to mean something, but now 32 of the 48... yeah, 48 teams are going to the Knockout Round. Getting into the Knockout Round used to be a big deal, even for the US. But now... if you don't lose all of your group stage games, you get to move on. Oi! And this is avoiding all the political stuff!
I have never been so unexcited for a World Cup before. Every game used to matter. But FIFA be darned if they don't try to squeeze out every dime they can out of the players, refs, and fans.
The Group Stage used to mean something, but now 32 of the 48... yeah, 48 teams are going to the Knockout Round. Getting into the Knockout Round used to be a big deal, even for the US. But now... if you don't lose all of your group stage games, you get to move on. Oi! And this is avoiding all the political stuff!
I have never been so unexcited for a World Cup before. Every game used to matter. But FIFA be darned if they don't try to squeeze out every dime they can out of the players, refs, and fans.
0 Replies
·
3 views
TWiT Tech Podcast Network
Time for another AWESOME video from the TWIT Network!
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WsnN8HEcao
Direct YouTube Link - Siri AI Is Apple's Smarter, More Personal Voice Assistant!
TWIT's Website
TWIT Live Feed
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WsnN8HEcao
Direct YouTube Link - Siri AI Is Apple's Smarter, More Personal Voice Assistant!
TWIT's Website
TWIT Live Feed
0 Replies
·
2 views
Staff member
HERE TO HELP YOU!
Anybody been following the Tournaments? I've been watching all weekend on the various ESPN's...
1128 Replies
·
100777 views
Last weekend I got in on a MLB game top of the 8th 1-1, first thought was extra innings... 
and it actually went extra after the 9th.
Catching a little of the AUSL, something to watch when I can't get into anything else.
and it actually went extra after the 9th. Catching a little of the AUSL, something to watch when I can't get into anything else.
Staff member
HERE TO HELP YOU!
112 Replies
·
2736 views
Staff member
HERE TO HELP YOU!
So...DirecTV advertises the Choice package with 95+ bonus channels for Satellite customers. You don't want 90+ of the 95...
Excluding PPV, premium networks, infomercial, shopping, religion, and non-English programming, there are 7 channels on satellite that are not on streaming:
NFL Network, MavTV, FE TV, Free Speech, NASA, INSP, and Pursuit. I'm pretty sure a couple of those are public interest that they have to carry to meet an FCC quota on satellite.
I hope they get called out for this advertising because that is ridiculous. One big network, NFL, will probably get added to streaming when their next agreement comes up, and the rest are likely very low viewership.
What about streaming, what do you get extra with the Choice package that isn't on Satellite:
Two stations - one of which is an internet TV - Fox Weather, and Heros & Icons (a diginet). Nothing special here to look at either.
If they cleaned up a couple of their agreements, added a few public interest stations to streaming, they could probably have their lineups match. It's close now, if you take out all the garbage on satellite that they earn money on. If they can sell infomercials on satellite, why can't they on streaming, seems like a miss. A bigger miss, including those stations in the "bonus channels just for satellite customers." Pretty sad marketing right there.
Attached is a comparison sheet of satellite vs streaming for the three main packages if anyone is interested.
MOD EDIT: See Post #3 for an up to date list of what channels are available on sat but not on streaming/internet, see Post #21 for an up to date list of what's available in the app for streaming customers, but not for sat customers.
Excluding PPV, premium networks, infomercial, shopping, religion, and non-English programming, there are 7 channels on satellite that are not on streaming:
NFL Network, MavTV, FE TV, Free Speech, NASA, INSP, and Pursuit. I'm pretty sure a couple of those are public interest that they have to carry to meet an FCC quota on satellite.
I hope they get called out for this advertising because that is ridiculous. One big network, NFL, will probably get added to streaming when their next agreement comes up, and the rest are likely very low viewership.
What about streaming, what do you get extra with the Choice package that isn't on Satellite:
Two stations - one of which is an internet TV - Fox Weather, and Heros & Icons (a diginet). Nothing special here to look at either.
If they cleaned up a couple of their agreements, added a few public interest stations to streaming, they could probably have their lineups match. It's close now, if you take out all the garbage on satellite that they earn money on. If they can sell infomercials on satellite, why can't they on streaming, seems like a miss. A bigger miss, including those stations in the "bonus channels just for satellite customers." Pretty sad marketing right there.
Attached is a comparison sheet of satellite vs streaming for the three main packages if anyone is interested.
MOD EDIT: See Post #3 for an up to date list of what channels are available on sat but not on streaming/internet, see Post #21 for an up to date list of what's available in the app for streaming customers, but not for sat customers.
220 Replies
·
30382 views
Staff member
HERE TO HELP YOU!
Cutting Edge
Sometimes a thread gets so many posts in it that is can cause issues for the server so that why today we introduce The Song Name Game Part 3!
So let the game continue!
The last song was added by Bobby who posted...
One Meat Ball - Andrews Sisters
CONTINUE ON AND HAVE FUN! WELCOME HOME TO SATELLITEGUYS.US!
Here are the original rules for the game as posted by WebbyDude back in 2006. http://www.satelliteguys.us/threads/68645-Song-Name-Game
Just name a song title and the band who performed it. The next person does the same thing, but needs to list a song title or band name which includes a word from the previous entry. Pick songs from any genre.
Example:
Long Live Rock and Roll -- Rainbow
Rainbow in the Dark -- Dio
Another example:
Ride the Lightning -- Metallica
Lightning Strikes -- Ozzy Osbourne
Get it?
An additional note: we all know that song titles, sometimes, use profane words. Because this is a family friendly website it is advised that you clean up that title up a bit. This is accomplished by using something like sh!t instead of the real word. Thanks....
So let the game continue!
The last song was added by Bobby who posted...
One Meat Ball - Andrews Sisters
CONTINUE ON AND HAVE FUN! WELCOME HOME TO SATELLITEGUYS.US!
Here are the original rules for the game as posted by WebbyDude back in 2006. http://www.satelliteguys.us/threads/68645-Song-Name-Game
Just name a song title and the band who performed it. The next person does the same thing, but needs to list a song title or band name which includes a word from the previous entry. Pick songs from any genre.
Example:
Long Live Rock and Roll -- Rainbow
Rainbow in the Dark -- Dio
Another example:
Ride the Lightning -- Metallica
Lightning Strikes -- Ozzy Osbourne
Get it?
An additional note: we all know that song titles, sometimes, use profane words. Because this is a family friendly website it is advised that you clean up that title up a bit. This is accomplished by using something like sh!t instead of the real word. Thanks....
67107 Replies
·
2662303 views
TWiT Tech Podcast Network
Time for another AWESOME video from the TWIT Network!
View: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/8ErY6s7b8WI
Direct YouTube Link - Apple Intelligence: Siri AI Revolutionizes Your Devices! #shorts
TWIT's Website
TWIT Live Feed
View: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/8ErY6s7b8WI
Direct YouTube Link - Apple Intelligence: Siri AI Revolutionizes Your Devices! #shorts
TWIT's Website
TWIT Live Feed
0 Replies
·
6 views
TWiT Tech Podcast Network
Time for another AWESOME video from the TWIT Network!
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JL5XFOpX4_A
Direct YouTube Link - Tech News Weekly 441
TWIT's Website
TWIT Live Feed
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JL5XFOpX4_A
Direct YouTube Link - Tech News Weekly 441
TWIT's Website
TWIT Live Feed
0 Replies
·
3 views